Election '96

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 657, 8 October 1996, Page 6

Election '96

The Bulletin asked the Taupo candidates to provide a profile on themselves:

Mark Burton is the sitting MP for the now-de-funct Tongariro electorate. What sort of Society do we want, for ourselves, our children and future generations?That's what this election is all about. I know I don't want to see the dog-eat-dog society which has been promoted in recent years. It's time to reclaim the values that most New Zealanders hold dear. I want to work for a country where: Y oungsters all get a healthy start, the opportunity for a good education, and the chance of a decent job; Older people can live their lives with dignity and security; Enterprising workers and employers can together build successful businesses and well paid, secure jobs; and where quality health

care is available and accessible to all our people. It's time to put new heart, new hope into New Zealand, Three years ago, I was given the privilege of becoming the parliamentary representative for Tongariro. With your support, I am committed to continue that work for you in the enlarged electorate of T aupo, to contribute to policies that will help build the better, fairer New Zealand that our people really do want, and to continue providing a strong, effective and accessible advocacy service for my local constituents.

As the campaign draws to a close it is clear that the issues on most voters' minds are health, education

and superannuation. These are issues that affect all New Zealanders to some degree or another. As a society I believe that we have a duty to provide good health care, free quality education and security in retirement. Under the market economy we have a twotiered arrangement where the quality of service you receive is dependent on your income. The policies of the Alliance will address these imbalances. We will provide free accessible health care, free quality education and security in retirement through guaranteed superannuation and the removal of the surtax. The Alliance will pay for those initiatives through progressivetaxation. Whilst this will mean atax increase for some, the majority (70%) of income earners will receive a tax cut. The Alliance will replace GST with a financial transaction tax of 1% or 10 cents per $ 1 00 of financial withdrawals. The policies of the Alliance will provide equal opportunity for all members of our society.

A new age is just around the corner with hope this will mean a chance for all to bathe in the warm light of equality. But not if we are ruled by money. The poor are getting poorer, 20% hold 80% of the wealth. I can cite many more problems: the need for more teachers; the right to free doctors, prescriptions and hospital care; the right to a job which pays enough to live on and gives self-worth. I do not say I know all the answers to solve these problems, but I care very much. I was born in Taupo. I have lived in Christchurch, Auckland, Hamilton, Te Kaha, learning through life

as a salesman, business manager culminating in my creation of Fastway Couriers' Christchurch branch. I am standing as a voice who will speak the truth with an ear that will listen. The McGillicuddy Serious party I stand for stand, sit, jump about, laugh, work in an atmosphere of pure fun. A group of far-seeing individuals who believe in love and free community spirit, with the will to live as we all want to in prosperity and good health. Is this much to ask? No. But is it what we currently all get? Again sadly, no!

Adrian Dixon is employed by Carter Holt Harvey Timber as an export co-ordinator, although

now on unpaid leave. He is also principle consultant for V alue Added Management, his own business. "I believe politics should be about the realities of people' s lives; about lateral thinking; about developing creative solutions to the very real problems this country is facing; about accepting that no one political party has sole rights on all good ideas; about not continually trotting out the same old failed ideas as the solutions to our ever-in-creasing social problems. "I wish to make a contribution to the ongoing growth of both our electorate and New Zealand as a whole - a country and people I have a deep love for."

Jan Ftynn, Natural Law Party candidate for Taupo,

is a health consultant in Auckland. Jan is a mother of three adult children, and grandmother of two. She was born and educated in Wellington. "We would like to see implemented a new technology that would 'uplift' New Zealand. Extensive scientific research has confirmed that a group of Y ogic Fliers dissolves collective negati ve trends, and creates an indomitable influence of harmony and positiveness in all areas of society. In 1987 Merseyside had the third highest rate of crime in England. Our technologies were implemented there and by 1 992 it had the lowest crime rate of all the 1 1 metropolitan areas. Crime fell by 1 5% while in the rest of the country it went up by 45%, plus Merseyside now has the shortest hospital waiting list in the country. "We would also encourage prevention oriented health education programmes of natural health care, organic agriculture, and the banning of genetically modified foods. Disallow government indebting of the nation, abolish GST, and lower all taxes as the need for gov-

FROM PAGE 6 taxes as the need for government spending is reduced."

John McCarthy is an Ohakune farmer also involved in an adventure tourist operation, seeking to be Taupo' s MP because he believes in the potential of this area. An outspoken advocate on farming and local issues, John believes that districts such as the Waimarino are going to need strong representation in the MMP environment. Provincial areas have different needs to those of the large cities. It is important that we have representation from someone who understands the different requirements ofsmallercommunities. "It is of vital importance

that we get our meat and wool sectors back on track. We have to have the structures in place so that the farmer suppliers get an equitable slice of the financial pie, without which the social breakdown of the fabric of our smaller towns will continue to escalate. "It is a fact that farming is the core business around which places such as Raetihi function. When the farmer does well, so does the town, if farming fails, so will the supporting towns, and the arguments about health and education become largely academic." Committed to farming and tourism, John is a local voice, and that would be good for this area.

This election campaign is all about heartland New Zealand and the way both

Labour and National have looked after it over the last 12 years. New Zealand First's vi- . sion is to create a fair and healthy society for each and every New Zealander. We ask the question if the economic reforms of the past 12 years have worked. . . then why are over 300,000 New Zealanders dependent upon welfare benefits. Near Zealand First is a political party founded and funded by good New Zealanders who are fed up with the election lies of both major parties. Winston Peters is the only leader who has challenged and demanded an inquiry into the BNZ bail-out ($1.2 billion) and was the instigator of the wine-box inquiry, thus already returning millions of dollars back to the treasury. Your member of parliament needs special qualities. It' s about looking after the people' s needs and standing in the gap when required. It's about being available, making appointments and keeping them. It's about serving all in the community not just chosen groups within comfort zones. Its about good representation in Wellington. I have never felt more able or confident to represent you and your needs both here and in Wellington. Bob Vine, Conservative. Bob Vine has lived all his life in this area, apart from time spent overseas in the Army. He retired from the army as Major, is presently a Ruapehu District councillor, and president of the Waiouru RSA. "I am known for my abil-

ity to work hard and I give you my pledge, if elected, to work for the best interests of the T aupo Electorate and my constituents before my Party 's interests." "I also pledge to work hard, listening and learning and, when familiar with procedures, to contribute to the best of my ability for my constituents and New Zealand. Although I am number five on my Party 's list, my priority is first as a local electorate member. As your Taupo MP I would leave no stone unturned to create and/or bring about: job development through our possum bounty plan; a stop to the erosion of our rural environment; reinstate humanity and dignity for our senior citizens; seek out the reasons the rural road toll is so high, and dig deep to find why teenagers are taking their own lives. I ask for your support. If enthusiasm and hard work count for anything, I will be again asking for a further three years support at the next Election.